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FROSTBURG, MD — Frostburg State University head women’s soccer coach Brian Parker recently announced the hiring of Cara LeMaster as a graduate assistant coach.

LeMaster joins the Bobcats after enjoying a stellar playing career at Division I Eastern Illinois University from 1999 to 2002, where she helped the Panthers to a 52-27-3 overall record and an 18-2-1 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference.

EIU won three OVC Tournament titles, two OVC regular-season crowns and earned back-to-back berths in the NCAA Tournament in 2001 and 2002.

She then served as a varsity assistant coach at Charleston (Ill.) High School in 2002 and 2003.

"Cara has an outstanding background and her playing and coaching experience will make her an asset to our program immediately," said Parker.

LeMaster broke onto the collegiate scene in fine fashion, earning OVC Freshman of the Year, first-team All-OVC and Great Lakes Region All-Freshman Team honors. She scored four goals, including three game-winners, and added an assist to help EIU finish 11-9 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the OVC. The Panthers claimed both the OVC regular-season and tournament championships.

As a sophomore, LeMaster was a repeat first-team All-OVC selection after scoring three goals, including two game-winners, and recording seven assists. The Panthers went 15-4-1 overall and 5-0 in the OVC to claim a second straight regular-season conference crown.

LeMaster continued her strong play as a junior, finishing second on the team with six goals, seven assists and 19 points. She tallied two game-winning goals, including the clincher against Tennessee Tech in the OVC semifinals, and was named to the All-OVC second team as well as the OVC All-Tournament Team. EIU advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, falling to No. 6 Notre Dame 2-0 in the first round. The Panthers finished 14-6 overall and 4-1 in the OVC.

As a senior, LeMaster set career-high's with nine goals and 25 points and also added seven assists to help EIU finish 12-8-2 overall (4-1-1 OVC). The Panthers won their third OVC Tournament title in four years and earned a second straight berth in the NCAA Tournament, where they dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 contest (3-1 in penalty kicks) to No. 14 Purdue in the first round. LeMaster earned first-team All-OVC, OVC All-Tournament Team and third-team All-Great Lakes Region honors for her performance.

LeMaster, the first Panther to be named All-OVC four times, currently ranks fourth on the EIU career charts in goals (22), game-winning goals (6), assists (22) and points (66). She is also tied for sixth in goals in a season (9 in 2002), tied for seventh in assists in a season (7 in 2000, 2001 and 2002) and ranks eighth in points in a season (25 in 2002).

"I am excited about the opportunity to begin coaching college soccer while earning a master’s," said LeMaster. "I am looking forward to working with Coach Parker and the women’s soccer team."

LeMaster, a native of Collinsville, Ill., earned her bachelor's degree in physical education from EIU in 2003. She is pursuing her master's degree in education.